Drawing toy with stylus detection

Abstract

A drawing toy and associated methods and computer-readable storage devices are disclosed. The drawing toy may comprise a stylus having a tip, a drawing surface configured to produce a visual path that follows a path of the tip along the drawing surface, and a plurality of stencils, each stencil comprising a plurality of designated areas and a plurality of trace paths. A controller of the drawing toy may identify a stencil placed upon the drawing surface, determine that a particular designated area of the placed stencil is proximate the stylus tip, and generate an output signal configured to cause a user perceivable output associated with the particular designated area determined to be proximate the stylus tip.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for generating user perceivable output in response to user input, the method comprising:
 receiving, via a stencil detector of a drawing toy, an identification tab of a stencil placed upon a drawing surface of the drawing toy, wherein the stencil comprises a plurality of designated areas and a plurality of trace paths configured to be traced by a stylus of the drawing toy, and wherein each designated area includes at least one trace path of the plurality of trace paths; 
 identifying the stencil based upon information provided on the identification tab of the stencil; 
 aligning the plurality of designated areas of the stencil with a plurality of conductive pads positioned under the drawing surface of the drawing toy as a result of said receiving; 
 activating, via a controller of the drawing toy, each conductive pad of the plurality of conductive pads one at a time to cause each conductive pad to generate an electromagnetic signal during an activation period for the respective conductive pad, wherein said activating comprises randomly activating the plurality of conductive pads one at a time; 
 generating, during the activation period for one of the plurality of conductive pads, an input signal with the stylus based on the electromagnetic signal received from the activated one of the plurality of conductive pads during its respective activation period and proximity of the stylus to the activated one of the plurality of conductive pads; 
 in response to receiving the input signal from the stylus, determining, with the controller, that a location of the stylus corresponds to the particular designated area aligned with the activated one of the plurality of conductive pads; and 
 generating an output signal that produces the user perceivable output associated with the particular designated area in response to determining that the location of the stylus corresponds to the particular designated area of the stencil. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 generating a sensor signal via the stylus as the stylus traces a trace path of the stencil, wherein a magnitude of the sensor signal is dependent upon distance between an activated conductive pad and the stylus; and 
 producing the input signal with the stylus in response to determining that the magnitude of the sensor signal has a predetermined relationship to a threshold level. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 actuating a switch in the stylus in response to pressure applied to a tip of the stylus as the stylus traces a trace path of the stencil; and 
 wherein said producing is dependent upon said actuating the switch. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising driving a speaker based upon the output signal to produce audible feedback associated with the particular designated area. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising creating a visible trace from magnetic particles of a drawing panel that provides the drawing surface by pulling the magnetic particles toward the drawing surface as a magnetic tip of the stylus moves along the drawing surface. 
     
     
       6. A method for generating user perceivable output in response to user input, the method comprising:
 receiving, via a stencil detector of a drawing toy, an identification tab of a stencil placed upon a drawing surface of the drawing toy, wherein the stencil comprises a plurality of designated areas and a plurality of trace paths configured to be traced by a stylus of the drawing toy, and wherein each designated area includes at least one trace path of the plurality of trace paths; 
 identifying the stencil based upon information provided on the identification tab of the stencil; 
 aligning the plurality of designated areas of the stencil with a plurality of conductive pads positioned under the drawing surface of the drawing toy as a result of said receiving; 
 activating, via a controller of the drawing toy, each conductive pad of the plurality of conductive pads one at a time to cause each conductive pad to generate an electromagnetic signal during an activation period for the respective conductive pad, wherein said activating comprises activating the plurality of conductive pads in a pattern; 
 generating, during the activation period for one of the plurality of conductive pads, an input signal with the stylus based on the electromagnetic signal received from the activated one of the plurality of conductive pads during its respective activation period and proximity of the stylus to the activated one of the plurality of conductive pads; 
 in response to receiving the input signal from the stylus, determining, with the controller, that a location of the stylus corresponds to the particular designated area aligned with the activated one of the plurality of conductive pads; and 
 generating an output signal that produces the user perceivable output associated with the particular designated area in response to determining that the location of the stylus corresponds to the particular designated area of the stencil. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 generating a sensor signal via the stylus as the stylus traces a trace path of the stencil, wherein a magnitude of the sensor signal is dependent upon distance between an activated conductive pad and the stylus; and 
 producing the input signal with the stylus in response to determining that the magnitude of the sensor signal has a predetermined relationship to a threshold level. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 actuating a switch in the stylus in response to pressure applied to a tip of the stylus as the stylus traces a trace path of the stencil; and 
 wherein said producing is dependent upon said actuating the switch. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 6 , further comprising driving a speaker based upon the output signal to produce audible feedback associated with the particular designated area. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 6 , further comprising creating a visible trace from magnetic particles of a drawing panel that provides the drawing surface by pulling the magnetic particles toward the drawing surface as a magnetic tip of the stylus moves along the drawing surface.